Crowe

MILESTONE ALBUM: MODERN CROWE

As we reach the top 20, the next 10 albums are define the growth after what I have referred to as my "Renaissance" or "Enlightenment", which will be my top 10. Kind of like the architectural structuring that comes right after you lay the foundation if that analogy makes any sense to you.


20: of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? (2007)

Whilst being relatively new in my life, this was one of those albums that I realized once I had heard it... I needed EVERYTHING attached to these guys. Once I downloaded the rest of their discography I craved more and I constantly watch the news for their newest release updates et al. Luckily for me, they are a pretty prolific group who consistently releases material... and AWESOME material. My favorite album of theirs is "*** Parade" but this was the album that got me hooked, like I had mentioned.

Check out: Labyrinthian Pomp, Suffer for Fashion, Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean Curse


19. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular (2008)

I do not get off on hype bands, but I love MGMT. I know that like many others they are in that place where if you're a "mainstream" kinda person and you know them, you're awesome - and if you think you're the sh!t when it comes to your taste in music... it was awesome to like these guys a year ago, but now... - anyway, I love this entire album with the exception of "Kids" and that's only due to the recent phenomenon of this radio station in my new city (KC) playing it every day at the same time when I get off of work and I listen to it stuck in traffic on my drive home. I think this **** is cool, and I try to find bands that sound like them to tide me over until the next MGMT album comes out. I think the lyrics deal with some interesting topics and the music is... different to the point where I listen to it and am still surprised at some of the things I catch. Weekend Wars is such an awesome song.

Check out: Weekend Wars, The Handshake, Future Reflections



18. The Smiths - The Queen is Dead (1986)
I got into The Smiths late - and it was because I saw High Fidelity and I heard John Cusack mention The Smiths, and I was like... who in the hell? Now, this was a couple of years ago at that famed art college and I made the mistake of not knowing who The Smiths were out loud and got to hear the damn gasp from the group of music snobs around - a gasp so big that all of the oxygen in the room was momentarily gone and I choked on the vacuum. They delighted, though, in showing me all of the albums and regaling me with the importance of Morrissey bla bla bla - and of course they got into a HUGE argument about which was the best album, by the end of that particular evening I knew more about The Smiths than I knew about bands I had been listening to for the majority of my life. The Queen is Dead happens to be my fave. When I got to musicbanter I was well versed in Smithdom... though I don't recall conversing about it here... anyway:

Check out: I Know It's Over, Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others, Frankly Mr. Shankly


17. Muse - Absolution (2003)

Yes, I think Origins of Symmetry is the superior album. NO, I don't think they are ripping off Radiohead. With that being said: Absolution is important because the string of singles that came off of this album made me interested in the band and since I picked them up (early in high school) I have never left them. Muse has always been within reach musically since Absolution came out. My favorite album is Black Holes and Revelations and I continue to use Muse as kind of a litmus for the new rock coming out, though that might be a mistake?

Check out: Time is Running Out, Hysteria, Stockholm Syndrome

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